Athens City Council members had been weighing the pros and cons of acquiring an abandoned Athens gas station for months, but a tiebreaking vote by Council President Jim Sands sealed the deal Monday night.
After being turned down twice at two separate sheriff’s sales, the abandoned Bi-Lo gas station at 83 Columbus Road will become a property of the city.
Council members Kent Butler, D-1st Ward, Chris Fahl, D-4th Ward, and Jeff Risner, D-2nd Ward voted “aye."
The acquisition of the property is important to the city because old oil tanks buried beneath the property could potentially contaminate city water lines, Fahl said.
“You can’t function as a city if you have tainted water,” Fahl said.
But council members Michele Papai, D-3rd Ward, Chris Knisely, D-at large and Steve Patterson, D-at large, voted “nay” because they didn’t know if the city could handle the costs of potential contamination.
The city faced Environmental Protection Agency sanctions in 2002 that totaled $1.35 million related to a similar clean up project, Knisely said.
“If we’re faced with clean-up fees, they could end up coming from the General Fund, which is a concern for me,” she said.
But contamination of the underground tanks at the site could cause a financial burden to the city, said City Auditor Kathy Hecht, adding that the city will spend $32,000 to remove the tanks and another $10,000 to tear down the building.
Councilman Elahu Gosney, D-at large, was not present at Monday night’s meeting, which prompted Sands to cast the tiebreaking “aye” vote to acquire the land. Sands said it was important the city “take responsibility” and accept the land.
The 3-3 vote to accept the ordinance Monday marked the second time this year that council members have voted “nay” on an
ordinance.
Monday night’s vote also marks the 11th ordinance since 2009 for which council members have cast “nay” votes, according to research done by The Post and documents from Athens City Council Clerk Debbie Walker.
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